SP Names Ram Gopal Yadav, Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as Rajya Sabha Candidates from UP

The two candidates are scheduled to file their nomination papers in Lucknow in the presence of SP president Akhilesh Yadav. The party announced the names through a post on X.

The announcement comes ahead of the October 16 Rajya Sabha elections, in which 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh are scheduled to go to polls. The Election Commission has fixed October 6 as the last date for filing nominations, with scrutiny scheduled for October 7 and withdrawal of candidature allowed until October 9.

Ram Gopal Yadav is a senior SP leader and has represented the party in the Rajya Sabha for several terms. His renomination comes as his current term in the Upper House is due to end in November.

Nathwani's selection brings a corporate figure into the SP's Rajya Sabha line-up. He is associated with Reliance Industries and is the son of Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani. He has also held positions in sports administration and other organisations.

The announcement followed criticism from Uttar Pradesh minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief O.P. Rajbhar, who questioned whether the SP's Rajya Sabha nominations would reflect Akhilesh Yadav's emphasis on the party's “PDA” formulation, referring to its political outreach to backward classes, Dalits and minorities.

Rajbhar also questioned the possibility of the SP fielding a third candidate and urged Akhilesh Yadav not to risk the party's prospects in pursuit of an additional seat.

The Election Commission has scheduled polling for October 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with counting beginning at 5 p.m. the same day. The elections cover 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh and one in Uttarakhand, while a separate by-election will be held for a Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal.

The Uttar Pradesh contest comes ahead of the state's 2027 Assembly elections and will be closely watched as parties assess their numbers and alliances in the state.